Blood is an important fluid that runs through the heart, arteries, and veins of both humans and animals. Its purpose is to carry oxygen and nutrients to the cells, take away waste products, and help fight sickness. It is universally agreed that blood is very important to the body. Indeed, it is the lifeline of the body.
In Genesis 9:4, God told Noah after the flood:
But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.
And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man.
Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
Blood, not only of man but even of animals, is sacred in the sight of God. He emphasized this further in Leviticus 7:20–27.
So, if the blood of animals is so sacred, how much more the blood of His only begotten Son that was shed for the remission of our sins on the cross at Calvary?
When blood is shed, it pollutes the land. Numbers 35:33 says:
So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.
Do you understand the wisdom behind God’s directive that the blood of animals be used to atone for sins in the Old Testament?
However, the blood of bulls and goats, or other animals, could not provide complete cleansing. These sacrifices had to be offered regularly because they did not have the power to provide total and eternal cleansing. Hebrews 9 and 10 explain this extensively.
The blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross at Calvary has eternal spiritual power to provide forgiveness, redemption, and protection for humanity once and for all.
What, then, is the purpose?
1. Ultimate and permanent sacrifice that cleanses from wrongdoing and removes the guilt of sin – Hebrews 9:22.
2. Ultimate payment to free humanity from the bondage of sin and death.
3. Protection and shielding from danger and harm.
4. The New Covenant is based on His blood. The blood of Jesus shed on the cross did away with the old covenant that required continuous sacrifices of animals. The blood of animals was not sufficient to completely deal with the sins of the people except on a temporary basis.
5. It forgives.
6. It gives life – John 6:53.
7. It draws you near to God.
8. It gives you peace – Colossians 1:20.
9. It sanctifies – Hebrews 13:12.
10. It makes you complete for every good work– Hebrews 13:20–21.
11. We overcome by His blood – Revelation 12:11.
How Do You Use the Blood of Jesus?
* Pleading the blood: Through prayer, asking God to cover you by the blood from spiritual or physical harm.
* Declaring aloud what the Bible says the blood of Jesus has accomplished for you.
* Asking for forgiveness by the blood, relying on it to wash away your guilt and cleanse your conscience.
* For spiritual warfare: Invoking the power in the blood through prayer to overcome every attack of darkness.
* Through the Holy Communion.
THE HOLY COMMUNION
Also called the Lord’s Supper, the Holy Communion is more than a Christian rite, as some believe it to be. It is one of the potent powers available to Christians, but it is not fully utilized. Most times, it is conducted as a mere powerless ritual.
Let’s start from the beginning.
The Last Supper of Jesus Christ with His disciples happened when the Israelites commemorated their deliverance from Egypt. In Exodus 12, God initiated the Passover and commanded that it be observed yearly.
So, it is no coincidence that Jesus Christ, in the Last Supper, did all that He did. His blood replaced the blood of the lamb or goat commanded by God to be killed for the Passover.
Jesus’ earthly ministry spanned three and a half years, and all through this time, and even beyond, the Israelites had been observing the Passover. But this time, something shifted.
John 13:1 says:
Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
This was going to be His last Passover, and He knew that He was going to be offered as our Passover, the Passover – 1 Corinthians 5:7.
In Matthew’s synoptic account, we are told in Matthew 26:26–28:
And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Luke explained further in chapter 22:19–22 that it should be done in remembrance of Him (Mark 14:22–25).
The Holy Communion is the Blood of the New Covenant. We dealt with covenants earlier in this blog.
Holy Communion is an exchange – the blood of Jesus that you drink comes into your life and replaces your own blood, and He took the body of sin and iniquity upon Himself. It is this exchange that gave way for His crucifixion upon the cross.
As Christ, the sinless One, He could not be sacrificed as a sinner. The exchange had to take place for that to happen. By His blood, we now have redemption from sin, while He paid the ultimate price – death on the cross – 1 Corinthians 11:23–26.
So, when Jesus said, It is finished, while He hung on that cross, it means that everything that pertains to the body and blood of sin that He exchanged inside the upper room during the Passover had been fully paid for, and as such, you do not have any reason to suffer again – John 19:30.
Is there any situation you are facing right now that seems to be defying the finished work of Christ?
Then remember the body and blood that were broken and shed for you, and remind that situation that the price has been paid in full.
1 Corinthians 11:23–26 says:
For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
The devil was defeated over 2,000 years ago, but he will always want to deceive you into believing that he is still in control. You have to take authority in the blood of Jesus Christ, the blood of the New Covenant.
This is a promise of forgiveness and a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Through this New Covenant in His blood, you have a direct relationship personally with God without needing an earthly mediator system.
Child of God, when you are being tossed to and fro and it seems all your efforts are not yielding, remember that there had been an exchange on the Cross, and do what you have been commanded in 1 Corinthians 11:26.
We have heard of diverse miracles that happened on account of this. Your Father is still in the business of doing miracles.
It is well.